Pre-Biotechnology & Molecular Biology

About the Program

Iowa Western’s Pre-Biotechnology and Molecular Biology study program will help prepare you for a career as an entry-level laboratory technician in research and biotechnology labs. You can use your Associate of Science degree as a springboard to earning a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college for more opportunities.

In this program, you will complete many biology and chemistry courses, as well as coursework in biotechnology, which will introduce you to other concepts, such as recombinant DNA, protein technology, tissue culture, and molecular genetics.

Iowa Western’s cutting edge lab technology utilizes the latest biotechnology equipment while emphasizing molecular and cellular biology. You’ll master PCR technology and gel electrophoresis while collaborating with local industry for basic understanding about these exciting career fields. This program will ready you to become a highly-skilled technician for the medical, bioscience, agrichemical, and pharmaceutical research and production industries.

Career Information

This program is designed for students intending to either transfer on to a four-year institution or enter the workforce upon completion of this two-year degree. Work in this field focuses on the fundamental processes of cellular life to develop more effective medicines, consumer products, and agricultural and industrial processes. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor and Statistics, biotechnology is among the most active fields of scientific research. Graduates can pursue employment with academic laboratories, pharmaceutical, or biotechnological companies. The government at the federal, state, and local levels employs a number of biotechnologists and it is anticipated that more will be needed as additional research is approved on health issues, usable fuels, and crop quality. In general, a minimum of an associate’s degree is necessary. Biological and forensic science technicians usually require at least a bachelor’s degree.